Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were accused of leaking a secret document, causing them to be labeled as traitors for a few months.
However, the Islamabad High Court recently cleared them of these charges in the controversial ‘cipher case’. This case was the most serious of several quick convictions against Khan before the general election.
Both he and Qureshi were initially sentenced to 10 years in prison for compromising Pakistan’s secure communication system.
The state had tried to prosecute this case three times, with the first two trials halted due to serious irregularities. The legal community criticized the rushed and unfair trial process, where the defendants were not allowed to choose their lawyers or cross-examine witnesses.
The Foreign Office later confirmed that the communication system was safe, weakening the charges. Many expected the verdict to be overturned, and it eventually was. This saga shows how the state’s attempt to punish Khan and Qureshi backfired, making them appear more like heroes.
It highlights the need for fair legal processes and the importance of voters in judging political actions.